Emergency Numbers & Access
Call 112 for all emergencies. The spoedeisende hulp (ER/SEH) is for genuine emergencies only — non-urgent visits may be redirected to the huisartsenpost (HAP). For urgent but non-emergency issues, call your huisarts or HAP first — they triage by phone and may send you directly to a specialist, bypassing ER.
Response time: 8-12 minutes nationally. Very reliable response. Helicopter EMS (Lifeliner) serves remote/rural areas and major trauma within 20 minutes.
Cost: Insured residents: covered but counts toward €385 deductible. Uninsured visitors: €150-800+ for ER (spoedeisende hulp). Ambulance: €700+ (covered for insured residents). Private ambulance not applicable — single public system.
Healthcare System
The Netherlands uses a mandatory private insurance model (Zorgverzekeringswet) — every resident must buy basic insurance from a private insurer (CZ, Zilveren Kruis, VGZ, Menzis). The huisarts (GP) is the strict gatekeeper to all specialist care — you cannot self-refer. After-hours care is handled by the huisartsenpost (HAP), a shared GP cooperative. The system is efficient and high-quality, but the mandatory deductible (eigen risico, €385/year in 2025) means your first healthcare costs are out-of-pocket even with insurance. Mental health has notoriously long waiting lists (3-12+ months). Dutch GPs are known for a conservative, "watchful waiting" approach — visitors used to more interventionist medicine may find this frustrating.
Designed for: All legal residents must purchase basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from private insurers. Visitors need travel insurance — no public safety net.
GP Access & Costs
Register temporarily with a huisarts (GP) — most practices accept temporary patients. The huisarts is the strict gatekeeper: no specialist referrals without GP approval. After-hours and weekend care is provided by the huisartsenpost (HAP) — always call first, no walk-ins. Specialists are accessed only via GP referral letter (verwijsbrief).
Typical wait: Urgent: same-day. Routine: 1-3 days. Huisartsenpost (after-hours): same-evening with phone triage. Specialist referral: 1-6 weeks depending on specialty. Mental health (GGZ): 3-12+ months.
Availability: Good in cities, but GP shortages growing in rural areas and some Amsterdam neighbourhoods. Many practices have a patient stop (patiëntenstop) — try multiple practices. Almost all GPs speak fluent English. Huisartsenpost (HAP) available every evening from 5pm, all weekends, and public holidays.
GP Visit
Insured residents: GP visits are free (outside deductible — huisarts is exempt from eigen risico)
Private GP
€30-70 for uninsured visitors. Insured residents: GP is free (exempt from deductible). Specialist with referral: covered after €385 deductible. Private specialist without referral: €100-250.
ER Without Insurance
€150-800+ for ER. Ambulance: €700+. Hospital stay: €500-1,500+/night. ICU: €2,000+/night.
Medication
Insured: medications covered after €385 deductible (eigen risico). Preferentiebeleid (preferential policy) means insurers choose which brand of generic you receive — not always your usual brand. Visitors pay full price. Dutch pharmacies charge dispensing fees (€6-12 per prescription). Generic medications widely prescribed and expected.
Health insurance is required for visa
Pharmacy & Medication
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm. Dienstdoende apotheek (duty pharmacy) provides after-hours/weekend coverage on rotation — check apotheek.nl or call your pharmacy's voicemail for the nearest open pharmacy.
OTC: Conservative OTC policy — many medications require a prescription that would be OTC elsewhere. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, and basic antihistamines available at supermarkets (drogisterij like Kruidvat, Etos). Anything stronger requires a pharmacy visit. Antibiotics always require a prescription.
Controlled substances: Schengen certificate (Schengenverklaring) required for travelling with controlled medications — apply via CAK (Centraal Administratie Kantoor) at least 2 weeks before travel. Carry medications in original packaging with a doctor's letter. Note: despite the Netherlands' tolerant reputation on recreational cannabis, medical regulations for controlled substances are strict.
Practical Tips
- Register at the gemeente (municipality) and get your BSN within 5 days of arrival — without it you cannot register with a GP, open a bank account, or get insurance
- Register with a huisarts immediately — many practices have patient stops (patiëntenstop) so try multiple GPs
- Call the huisartsenpost (HAP) for urgent evening/weekend issues — do NOT go to ER for non-emergencies
- Almost all healthcare professionals speak excellent English — language is rarely a barrier
- Get a Schengen certificate from CAK before travelling with controlled medications
- Download the Thuisarts.nl app — evidence-based health advice endorsed by Dutch GPs, available in English
- Apply for DigiD (digital identity) — needed for Mijn Zorgverzekering (insurance portal) and government healthcare services
What is the emergency number in the Netherlands?
112 for all emergencies (police, fire, ambulance). For non-emergency GP care outside hours, call the local huisartsenpost (HAP). The HAP number varies by region — find it online or call your GP's answering machine.
Is healthcare free in the Netherlands for visitors?
EU/EEA visitors with EHIC are covered for medically necessary care. However, you may need to pay upfront and claim reimbursement. Non-EU visitors need travel insurance. All residents must have mandatory private insurance — there is no free public option.
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Sources: Dutch Ministry of Health (VWS), Zorginstituut Nederland, NZa (Dutch Healthcare Authority), CDC Travelers Health 2025, RIVM (National Institute for Public Health)
Last reviewed: March 2026 by Gewardz Health
Further Reading
EHIC, GHIC & E111: Free Healthcare in Europe
How to use EHIC in the Netherlands — coverage and the Dutch deductible system.
Read guideHealthcare in Germany
Compare the Dutch mandatory private model with Germany's dual public-private system.
Read guideHealthcare in Belgium
Compare healthcare across the Benelux — similar systems, different approaches.
Read guide